1. American reconnaissance satellites have reportedly spotted Chinese ships suspected of selling oil to North Korean vessels about 30 times since October. China has apparently been secretly selling oil to North Korea in violation of UN sanctions and its own promises to drastically curb trade with the country. Meanwhile, South Korea has seized a Hong Kong-registered ship that allegedly transferred oil to a North Korean vessel in violation of United Nations sanctions. It has also seized a second ship (a Panama-flagged vessel) suspected of transferring oil products to North Korea in violation of international sanctions. The US has asked the Security Council to blacklist all 10 vessels, but China objected to the proposal, diplomats said, and agreed only to blacklist four ships.

(Begin excerpts)
While China has promised to do so and given the green light to harsh sanctions against Pyongyang at the UN in recent months, the latest reports are a reminder that Beijing routinely fails to deliver on its promises when it comes to getting tough with North Korea.

Hua Chunying, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, said on Wednesday that she was not aware of the Chosun report but denied that Beijing has violated any UN rules.

Experts say that the reports are not conclusive, but are credible and should be taken seriously. Bonnie Glaser, the director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told me that satellite images are “reliable” and that the Chosun Ilbo report is “likely accurate.” (End excerpts)

3. Russian tankers have supplied fuel to North Korea on at least three occasions in recent months by transferring cargoes at sea, according to two senior Western European security sources, providing an economic lifeline to the secretive Communist state. Like China, Russia has denied breaching UN sanctions on North Korea.

4. There are increasing signs that North Korea is buckling under pressure of UN sanctions. That explains the desperate attempts by the "drowning" North Korean devil incarnate to get a lifeline from his two patrons (China and Russia) or a third party such as private companies. It won't be surprising that more foreign ships could be seized for breaching UN sanctions on North Korea in the future. It would be more effective to seize North Korean ships which are caught red-handed in the illicit trade. Like birds returning to their nests after going out to search for food, North Korean vessels could be easily seized while they are returning to ports with their illicit cargoes. The US must intensify its sanctions against North Korea, even enforcing a naval blockade if necessary.

5. In conclusion, the UN sanctions are just an interim measure to force North Korea (hopefully) to dismantle its nuclear program. The illegal oil transfer to North Korean ships is akin to the failed attempt to cover all the cesspools as narrated in Political Satire: The Old Man of the Mountain (10)

In the fictitious story, the two hostile tribal chieftains pledged measures in fight for clean air but they still kept a number of cesspools open for "the big business" of their people.

North Korea has vowed or promised to punish those countries (including China and Russia of course) which support the latest U.N. sanctions. It said: "Those countries that raised their hands in favor of this ‘sanctions resolution’ shall be held completely responsible for all the consequences to be caused by the ‘resolution’ and we will make sure forever and ever that they pay heavy price for what they have done.”

If the entire US is within striking range of North Korean nuclear missiles, as claimed by the rogue regime, the whole of China, Russia and Europe should fall within the range. It is beyond comprehension that China and Russia can tolerate the North Korean nuclear threat which is too close for comfort.

China and Russia have forgotten the history that they were conquered by the "uncivilized" Mongols in the 13th century and threatened by Hunnic tribes in earlier centuries.

"If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience." -- George Bernard Shaw.

Unless we take Fatboy Kim's threats as the babbling of a baby, it is quite likely he will punish China and Russia sometime in the future. Then history will repeat itself and once again China and Russia will fall victim to an invasion by a smaller state.